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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born with heavy breasts and too many curves.
00:04My half-sister was afraid her boyfriend Jake would lose his mind over me.
00:08So she sold me to a dying man, Ryder Calloway.
00:14Sure, Ryder's injury means he can't get hard.
00:17But at least you're spared the pain of having his children.
00:23Three months later, I was begging for mercy every single night.
00:28I desperately wanted to ask Claire exactly what she meant by can't get hard.
00:36Ryder Calloway.
00:38Northgate University's undefeated ice hockey captain and the most feared name in the collegiate league
00:44was carried off the ice in blood.
00:47The hit had come from behind, illegal, brutal.
00:51By the time they reached him, he'd lost consciousness.
00:54His mother, Diana, had already lost her husband years ago.
00:58Now, she stood at the edge of losing her son.
01:02Someone on the family's legal team suggested an emergency contract marriage.
01:06If Ryder were married to a healthy young woman, legal stability and medical next-of-kin status
01:11could help the family manage his care and keep the estate in order.
01:16Claire accepted it for me.
01:18If I refused, she would pull out my scholarship funding
01:21and have me transferred to work as an off-campus cleaner.
01:24I knew she hadn't forgiven me for my history with Jake.
01:29Please!
01:30I swear Jake and I are just friends!
01:32What good is a vow?
01:34Do you know how distracting your big boobs are?
01:36Tears came without permission.
01:38Walking around campus with that body?
01:40Which man here wouldn't lose it the moment they laid eyes on you?
01:43It's not that I don't trust you.
01:45It's that I don't trust men.
01:48Do you know who he is?
01:50A billionaire!
01:54If my mother and Diana weren't old friends,
01:58you wouldn't even be considered.
01:59Claire, I don't want to be anyone's emergency wife.
02:02Please don't make...
02:06Eva, are you insane?
02:09Miss Claire, word from the Calamite house.
02:12Ryder has woken up.
02:13Claire dragged me straight to the Calloway house.
02:15I followed her through the entrance hall to a closed door.
02:19Through the gap, I caught a shape on the bed.
02:23The low sound of difficult breathing.
02:25Diana stood near the window, eyes red.
02:28She took Claire's hands.
02:31Claire, thank you for everything.
02:34He's pulled through.
02:36There's no need for the contract marriage.
02:38I won't ruin a girl's future over this.
02:42Claire's eyes moved fast.
02:44Mrs. Calloway, the arrangement should still go forward.
02:48Eva arrived the same day Ryder woke up.
02:49That has to mean something.
02:51Diana hesitated.
02:52She looked at me.
02:54Before she could speak, the family physician stepped out of the room, her expression flat.
03:00Ryder has regained consciousness, but the hit fractured his lower spine and struck deep
03:04into his inner, flint deep into his inner thigh.
03:07The nerve damage.
03:09He can't!
03:10He will not be able to get hard.
03:13Possibly ever.
03:14Diana's knees gave.
03:19Eva, knowing this, do you still want this?
03:23Of course she does.
03:25She's just a girl with no standing.
03:27She should be grateful.
03:29I didn't speak right away.
03:31My mother had been a gifted doctor.
03:33I learned my mother's healing techniques from her notes.
03:36Maybe I could take care of Ryder.
03:38Perhaps it was better to be the wife of a dead person than to be bullied by my stepsister
03:43for the rest of my life.
03:44I straightened and stood in front of Diana.
03:47Mrs. Calloway, I'm willing.
03:49I'll sign the agreement, care for Ryder, and be here as long as you need me.
03:54Diana kept her word.
03:56She had a proper wedding outfit made.
03:59She treated it with full ceremony.
04:01On our wedding day, Claire said to me,
04:04Even though Ryder can't perform, at least you're spared the pain of having his children.
04:10Don't worry.
04:10A man who can't perform there is probably exceptional everywhere else.
04:15I told myself I was simply moving to a new house.
04:19Ryder was too weak to stand through the full wedding ceremony.
04:23I completed the signing beside his team jersey.
04:27The one hanging on the wall.
04:29Number seven.
04:31His number.
04:33Diana watched the whole thing with her eyes wet.
04:37When it was done, I was Ryder Calloway's wife.
04:41A wife of a billionaire ice hockey stars.
04:44His room was quiet when I pushed the door open.
04:47He was sitting up against the headboard.
04:49Pale.
04:50He turned when I walked in.
04:52Up close, he was strikingly good-looking.
04:55Strong jaw.
04:56Dark eyes that didn't waste any movement.
05:00I never intended to take a wife in the college.
05:03If you don't mind,
05:06we can treat this like a roommate arrangement.
05:08Tonight the bed is yours.
05:10I'll take that.
05:15Tomorrow you move to the guest room.
05:21All right.
05:23He had thought of everything.
05:25It wasn't what I'd expected.
05:28Before the ceremony,
05:29an older staff member pressed a prawn book for me.
05:33She'd whispered with a strange look.
05:38There are other ways between a husband and wife.
05:41You might find this useful.
05:43I hadn't understood her until I opened it.
05:46He'd moved through me just from the first page.
05:49Is it too warm in here?
05:52Ryder was watching me from bed.
05:54Eyes steady.
05:56Direct.
05:57The formal wear is heavy.
06:00I'm a little warm.
06:04Get ready for bed then.
06:09I set the book on the dresser.
06:11I unpinned my hair.
06:13Then I changed.
06:15Layered dress off piece by piece
06:18until I was standing in just a thin nightgown.
06:21I looked in the mirror.
06:23The fabric was not thick enough.
06:25Heavy breasts straining against the cloth.
06:28Waists narrow.
06:29Hips full.
06:30In a thin nightgown at midnight,
06:32there was nothing left to hide behind.
06:34I moved toward the lamp
06:36and walked straight into his gaze.
06:38He wasn't asleep.
06:40His chest rose hard.
06:42The tips of his ears went red.
06:43His throat worked as he swallowed.
06:45I grabbed my hoodie and pressed it against my chest.
06:50Ryder, I thought you were asleep.
06:53I could sleep later.
06:55My breath caught.
06:56He rose to his feet slowly.
06:59Tall.
07:00His shadow fell over me.
07:03Image from that book flooded back.
07:06What did he want to do?
07:08Then Ryder turned and walked to the door.
07:13The moment cold air rushed in from the hallway.
07:16I came back to myself.
07:18He was already gone.
07:21When he'd looked at me just now,
07:23the shock in his eyes.
07:28Had I actually rattled him?
07:30He came back sometime in the night.
07:33His hair was still damp from the shower.
07:39When I woke up in the morning,
07:40he was already gone.
07:42His side of the room was empty.
07:44His assistant, Sunny,
07:45came to check on me.
07:46Ryder, why didn't you tell someone
07:48to run you a hot shower?
07:49The water in the rink showers
07:50is freezing this time of year.
07:52I'll make you ginger soup.
07:53You're going to catch something.
07:55Does Ryder, Ryder usually take cold showers?
07:58Not that I know of.
08:00I went to greet Diana that morning.
08:03Ryder was already sitting beside her.
08:07She smiled like spring had come early
08:09the moment she saw me.
08:11Her face only changed when Ryder coughed.
08:15Ryder, I need to talk to Eva privately.
08:18Go rest.
08:19He left without arguing.
08:22Diana waved me over to sit beside her.
08:25Eva, my sweet girl.
08:27My son waking up is a blessing.
08:30But I can't let that blessing
08:32become your burden.
08:34The doctor says the nerve damage
08:36is permanent.
08:37No one knows how much time he has.
08:41Some in the family suggested
08:42I name a different heir
08:43from another branch of the family.
08:45But that would mean trapping you
08:46in a life with no future.
08:48You came here to stand by him
08:50and I am already grateful for that.
08:52I can't ask you to give him
08:53the rest of your life too.
08:54I've already thought it through.
08:55If the worst comes,
08:56I'll have him dissolve
08:58the marriage contract.
08:59You'll be free.
09:00I'll see to it that you have housing
09:02and enough to live on.
09:06I hadn't expected her
09:07to think this far ahead for me.
09:09It made me think of my mother.
09:11If she had lived,
09:14Diana laughed through tears.
09:16Look at me making you cry too.
09:20Eva, call me mom.
09:22You might as well.
09:25And one more thing.
09:28Claire mentioned, you know,
09:30healing technique.
09:32Ryder's daily health.
09:34The food, the supplements.
09:36Could you take that on?
09:38I just want him around a little longer.
09:40That's my small selfishness.
09:47I went to the kitchen
09:48and started planning.
09:50I carried the meal tray
09:52down the hall
09:52to Ryder's room.
09:55He was at his desk
09:56giving instructions
09:57to a junior teammate.
09:58Something about defense coverage.
10:00Just leave the meal.
10:02I'll take it later.
10:07You should eat while it's warm.
10:09The supplements don't work
10:10right on an empty stomach.
10:11He glanced at the tray.
10:13Then at me.
10:14He sat down
10:14without another word.
10:17Going forward,
10:19have Sunny bring the meals.
10:20She knows the routine.
10:21I can do it.
10:24It's not necessary.
10:27It's the same either way.
10:32It isn't have Sunny do it.
10:37Let's go out and talk.
10:45That confirmed it.
10:47Ryder Calloway
10:48did not want me around.
10:50Was my curve
10:51really too exaggerated?
10:54I followed his instruction.
10:57After that,
10:58Sunny delivered
10:58every meal to his studies.
11:00A week later,
11:01at morning check-in
11:02with Diana,
11:03Dr. Mills came by
11:04for his routine check.
11:06She said his vitals
11:07are the most stable
11:08she's seen.
11:10Eva,
11:10that's your doing.
11:12Then back in my room,
11:14I added it
11:14to the small box
11:15I kept in the dresser.
11:16You never wear any of it.
11:22I will eventually.
11:26If I ever leave,
11:27it all converts
11:28to something useful.
11:29You'd sell
11:30the things Mom gave you?
11:32Not while I'm here.
11:33But if the marriage contract
11:34is dissolved one day?
11:36Yes.
11:37That's just practical.
11:41Ryder!
11:43Ryder,
11:44did you need something?
11:47Uh, I left some team footage
11:49in this room
11:50looking for it.
11:53I'll help you find it.
11:54What format?
11:56USB.
11:57Black case.
12:06Any idea where you left it?
12:09No.
12:23He was really handsome.
12:25Fair skin,
12:25sharp brows,
12:26dark eyes.
12:39My chest pressed against him
12:41and I could feel
12:42his hard dick.
12:51Your footage.
12:53Keep it.
12:55Oh no.
12:57Now he must have
12:57a worse impression of me.
13:01After that,
13:02I started actively
13:03avoiding Ryder.
13:05He was healing.
13:06He needed calm.
13:07I was apparently
13:08not conducive to calm.
13:09But a new problem
13:10landed in my inbox.
13:12Jake had been messaging me
13:13three times in the past week.
13:15I deleted them
13:16without responding
13:17and locked them
13:18in a folder.
13:19Eva.
13:21Eva.
13:22Someone's waiting
13:23at the side entrance.
13:25He says he won't leave
13:25until you come out.
13:27I already knew
13:28who it was.
13:32I walked out fast,
13:33already irritated.
13:35I pushed open
13:35the side door.
13:37Eva.
13:38You finally came.
13:42You can call me
13:43Mrs. Calloway
13:45or just don't
13:46call me anything.
13:47He leaned against the wall.
13:48I'm going to be promoted
13:49to senior team
13:50after next season.
13:52I just think
13:52that's the scene.
13:54I'm going to be promoted
13:55to senior team
13:56captain next season.
13:59When that happens,
14:01I won't need
14:02Claire's family
14:02connections anymore.
14:04Eva.
14:05Come be with me.
14:07Ryder's finished.
14:08Everyone knows it.
14:10Almost dying?
14:12What kind of future
14:13is that?
14:18He reached out
14:19toward me.
14:20I stepped back.
14:22You want me
14:22as a side piece?
14:24He nodded
14:24like it was reasonable.
14:26I laughed.
14:27Actually laughed.
14:31Why would I give up
14:32being a Callowin wife
14:34to be your secret?
14:35I am standing.
14:37I have a name.
14:38I have a house
14:39that could fit
14:40your apartment
14:41twelve times over.
14:43The whole campus
14:44knows Ryder's washed up.
14:49Seems like a waste.
14:53My stomach turned.
14:55I stepped closer.
14:56My voice went quiet.
14:58You want to push this?
14:59I have every message
15:01you've sent me saved.
15:03I can have them
15:04on Claire's phone
15:05in ten minutes.
15:10How does your
15:11captainship look
15:12after that?
15:15His face went white.
15:17I turned and walked
15:18back through the door.
15:20Behind me,
15:20I heard him start
15:21to say something.
15:23I closed the door.
15:27I spun around
15:28and nearly walked
15:28into Ryder.
15:30He was standing
15:31less than two feet away
15:33in a dark team jacket.
15:35I hadn't heard him
15:36come up.
15:38Ryder, I...
15:39His eyes were level.
15:41Not cold.
15:42Something else.
15:43You just called yourself
15:44a Callany.
15:45My face got warm.
15:48That was...
15:48I was making a point.
15:50I didn't mean to
15:51overstep.
15:54You told him
15:54I was the most
15:55celebrated athlete
15:56in the league.
15:59That's just true.
16:01Ryder tilted
16:02his head slightly.
16:03Something moved
16:03in his expression.
16:04A minute ago,
16:05you said you were
16:05my wife.
16:07Now you're back
16:08to Ryder?
16:14I...
16:15I'll go check
16:16on your afternoon
16:16supplement timing.
16:18I tried to step
16:18past him.
16:19His hand caught
16:20my arm.
16:20gentle but there.
16:24I stumbled
16:25sideways into
16:25his chest.
16:32I looked up
16:33at him
16:34from three inches
16:34away.
16:36His eyes were
16:37dark and very
16:38close.
16:39The things you
16:39said just now...
16:43were they true?
16:45I couldn't tell
16:46him the whole
16:46truth was just
16:47a bluff
16:47for Jake's
16:47benefit.
16:48So I looked up
16:49at him and
16:49said nothing.
16:51Ryder's eyes
16:52stayed on my face.
16:53The distance
16:54between us
16:54was wrong.
16:55Too close,
16:56his breath warm,
16:57his hand still
16:57around my arm.
17:00Eva...
17:00The supplement timing.
17:02The supplement timing.
17:02I should go check.
17:04He let go.
17:06I walked away fast.
17:07Behind me nothing.
17:08No footsteps.
17:09Just silence.
17:11That was the first
17:12time I'd seen
17:13color in Ryder
17:14Calloway's face.
17:17My heart was going
17:18completely haywire.
17:22That night I dreamed
17:23about him.
17:26Nothing specific,
17:27just his voice in
17:28the dark, low and
17:29close.
17:29Eva...
17:30Saying my name in a
17:31way that made my
17:31chest ache.
17:32I woke up with my
17:33pulse pounding and the
17:34sheets twisted.
17:35Sunny knocked and
17:36came in.
17:37I asked her to bring
17:38cold water.
17:39It really is getting
17:40warmer.
17:42I pressed a
17:43handful of cold
17:44water against my
17:45face.
17:45Then, I thought
17:47about Ryder going
17:48to take that cold
17:49shower in the middle
17:50of the night.
17:50I shook the thought
17:51out of my head
17:52immediately.
17:53He had nerve damage.
17:54He was healing.
17:55This was absurd.
17:56Mrs. Calloway is
17:58having dinner in the
17:59courtyard tonight.
18:00She'd like you both
18:00there.
18:01Diana's housekeeper
18:02came to find me.
18:03I'd been finding
18:05reasons to avoid
18:05shared meals all
18:07week.
18:07Diana had noticed.
18:09I couldn't keep
18:10saying no.
18:11I walked out to
18:12the small yard behind
18:13the house.
18:14As the evening light
18:15came through the
18:16trees.
18:16The spread on the
18:17table was everything
18:18I liked.
18:19I stood there
18:20looking at it.
18:21Ryder remembered.
18:22He asked the
18:23kitchen this morning.
18:26My mother had
18:27died the night I
18:28was born.
18:30No one had ever
18:31made a point of
18:32the date.
18:34Something moved
18:34in my chest,
18:36small and uninvited.
18:37How did you know
18:38today was my
18:38birthday?
18:39I forgot myself.
18:41The marriage
18:42registration
18:42paperwork.
18:44It listed your
18:45date of birth.
18:47She's just
18:48that it'd have
18:48to think and
18:49say it.
18:49I'd do that.
18:51This is a bottle
18:52I've been saving.
18:54Good apple cider.
18:56And it's
18:57so or not.
18:58I'm opening it
18:59for you tonight.
19:00Don't let either
19:00of you drink too
19:01much.
19:04Actually,
19:05the night air
19:06is too cold
19:07for my joints.
19:08I'll leave you
19:08too to enjoy it.
19:13She was gone
19:14before I could
19:15say anything.
19:15The yard went
19:16quiet.
19:17To avoid the
19:18silence, I poured
19:19a glass and drank
19:20it faster than I
19:21should have.
19:21It was sweet.
19:23It was also
19:23stronger than it
19:24tasted.
19:25I poured another,
19:26then another.
19:27The warmth spread
19:28up through my chest
19:29and behind my eyes.
19:32I reached toward
19:33the last small
19:34cake on the plate
19:35in the middle
19:35and found it
19:36empty.
19:37Where did the
19:37last one go?
19:39I ate it.
19:43I don't know
19:44where the nerve
19:44came from.
19:45I leaned toward
19:46him.
19:46Who said you
19:47could have the
19:47last one?
19:48Give it back.
19:48Spider stared at
19:49me.
19:50Then he opened
19:50his mouth.
19:51You'll have to
19:51come find it
19:52yourself.
19:52I looked at
19:53his mouth,
19:54then back at
19:54his eyes,
19:55then back at
19:55his mouth.
19:56I leaned forward
19:57and kissed him.
19:58He went completely
19:59still.
19:59His breath
20:00stopped.
20:01Then his hand
20:01came up to the
20:02back of my head
20:03and the kiss
20:03went deeper,
20:04slower,
20:05like he'd been
20:05waiting for it.
20:06Footsteps on
20:07the gravel path.
20:08We broke apart.
20:09Ryder,
20:10Diana said it's
20:10getting cold.
20:11She wanted me
20:12to-
20:12She stopped,
20:13looked at us.
20:14I'll just leave
20:15these here.
20:16I stood up too
20:16fast.
20:17The yard tilted.
20:18My knees went
20:19the wrong way.
20:20Everything went
20:20dark.
20:21I woke up to
20:22the morning light
20:23and a headache
20:23like a fist
20:24behind my eyes.
20:25I sat up fast.
20:26Diana,
20:27the church visit.
20:28I'd promised I'd
20:29go with her
20:29this morning.
20:30Don't rush.
20:31Sunny appeared
20:31in the doorway.
20:32The car isn't
20:33ready yet.
20:34Did I-
20:34How did I get
20:35back here?
20:36Ryder carried
20:36you in.
20:37I looked at her.
20:38She nodded
20:39seriously.
20:40I didn't say
20:40anything strange,
20:41did I?
20:41You kept
20:42grabbing his
20:43sleeve and
20:43calling him
20:44baby.
20:45She pressed
20:45a hand over
20:46her mouth.
20:46Over and over.
20:48He turned
20:48so red.
20:49I thought he
20:50was gonna
20:50faint too.
20:51Sunny,
20:51if you tell
20:52anyone-
20:53She was already
20:54running.
20:54I found Diana
20:55at the front door.
20:56We drove
20:56out to the
20:57botanical gardens.
20:58She liked
20:58the greenhouse
20:59there on weekend
21:00mornings and
21:00said it was
21:01peaceful.
21:01I sat in the
21:02passenger seat
21:03staring out the
21:04window, still
21:04half mortified.
21:06Diana glanced
21:06over.
21:07You're not
21:07thinking about
21:08what I think
21:08you're thinking
21:09about.
21:09I've talked
21:11to about
21:11anything.
21:12Eva.
21:12She kept
21:13her eyes
21:13on the road,
21:14but she was
21:14smiling.
21:15I arranged
21:16this dinner
21:16on purpose.
21:17I'm not
21:18sorry about it.
21:19Ryder and I
21:20are not-
21:20I know,
21:21I know.
21:22She waved
21:22a hand.
21:23I just want
21:24you two to
21:24be able to
21:24talk,
21:25even if it
21:26can't be
21:26more than
21:26that.
21:27I'd rather
21:27you were
21:27friends than
21:28strangers living
21:29in the same
21:29house.
21:30I was about
21:30to answer
21:31her.
21:31The car
21:32lurched,
21:32a sharp
21:33horn.
21:33Diana yanked
21:34the wheel.
21:35The car
21:35swerved hard
21:36onto the
21:36shoulder and
21:37the engine
21:37sputtered out.
21:38The brakes!
21:39She pressed
21:40the pedal
21:40again,
21:41nothing.
21:41We were
21:42on the
21:42incline road
21:43above the
21:43park,
21:44still moving,
21:45getting faster.
21:46I looked
21:46ahead,
21:47a concrete
21:47barrier at
21:48the curve,
21:51we have
21:52to get
21:52out now.
21:52Eva,
21:53that's
21:53too
21:53dangerous.
21:54The barrier
21:54is faster.
21:56Unbuckle,
21:57hold on
21:57to me,
21:57we go
21:58on three.
21:58She was
21:59shaking,
21:59but she
21:59moved.
22:00I got
22:00my door
22:01open,
22:01locked my
22:02arm through
22:02hers,
22:03and the
22:03moment the
22:04car drifted
22:04toward the
22:05far shoulder,
22:06I pulled
22:06us both
22:06out and
22:07hit the
22:07slope
22:08hard.
22:08We
22:08rolled.
22:09I got
22:09my arms
22:10around her
22:10and took
22:11the ground
22:11on my
22:12side,
22:12my back,
22:13my elbow.
22:14The car
22:14struck the
22:14barrier 20
22:15meters ahead
22:16with a sound
22:17like a gunshot.
22:18silent.
22:18Diana,
22:19are you hurt?
22:19Tell me where.
22:20I was already
22:20checking her.
22:21Eva,
22:22you're bleeding.
22:23The gravel
22:23had opened up
22:24my forearm
22:24and one side
22:25of my face.
22:26I didn't feel
22:26it yet.
22:27Adrenaline.
22:28I'm fine.
22:28Are you hurt
22:29anywhere?
22:30Nothing serious.
22:31Eva,
22:32you covered me
22:33the entire way
22:34down.
22:34I helped her
22:35sit up against
22:35the slope.
22:36She was already
22:37crying.
22:37I'm fine.
22:38Sunny's car,
22:40she's going
22:40right behind us.
22:41She'll be
22:41calling for help.
22:42I heard my own
22:43voice as if
22:44from a distance.
22:44Steady,
22:45calm,
22:46while every nerve
22:46in my body
22:47screamed,
22:48a sound,
22:48footsteps,
22:49fast,
22:50coming down
22:50the slope.
22:51I thought
22:51I was imagining
22:52it.
22:53Eva,
22:53don't move!
22:54I've got you!
22:55Ryder's voice.
22:56He came down
22:57the bank fast,
22:58pale,
22:58jaw set,
22:59eyes scanning me.
23:00He took my arm
23:01in both hands.
23:02How much blood
23:02is this?
23:03Where's the source?
23:04Surface.
23:05I'm fine.
23:06Stop saying that.
23:07He pulled off
23:08his jacket
23:08and pressed it
23:09to my forearm.
23:10You're not fine.
23:11He looked at
23:11his mother.
23:12She waved him
23:13back to me.
23:13I'm alright,
23:14Ryder.
23:15Take care of Eva.
23:16He tied the jacket
23:17around my arm
23:17and lifted me
23:18before I could protest.
23:19I was in his arms,
23:20off the ground.
23:21I could feel his chest
23:22rising too fast.
23:23He could have been killed.
23:25Like he was saying
23:25to himself.
23:26He carried me to the road.
23:27The whole way I kept
23:28telling him I could walk.
23:29He kept not listening.
23:31By the time the medics arrived,
23:32his face was still wrong.
23:33Too tight,
23:34too pale.
23:34Diana told the medic
23:36everything.
23:37Eva pulled me out.
23:38She took all of it.
23:39Every impact.
23:40I walked away
23:41without a scratch
23:42because of her.
23:43Ryder stood
23:43at the edge of the group,
23:45hands in his pockets,
23:46looking at me.
23:47I looked back.
23:48You need to lie still.
23:49When they finished
23:50wrapping my arm.
23:51I know.
23:52We're going straight
23:52to the doctor.
23:53I know.
23:53He helped me get
23:54into the car.
23:55We drove in silence.
23:56His hand stayed
23:57on the back of my seat
23:58the whole way,
23:59not touching me,
24:00just there.
24:00At one point,
24:02I felt something
24:02hit my face.
24:03I looked up
24:04at the clear sky.
24:05Then,
24:06I realized it wasn't rain.
24:07I reached over
24:08and covered his hand
24:09with mine,
24:09just for a second.
24:10He turned it palm up
24:11without hesitation
24:12and held on.
24:13I didn't let go.
24:14Dr. Mills patched my arm
24:15and told me to stay
24:16in bed for a week.
24:17No fractures,
24:18lots of bruising,
24:19a dislocated finger
24:20that she reset
24:21without ceremony.
24:22I lay there
24:22after she left
24:23and looked at the ceiling.
24:25Sunny came in with soup.
24:26She kept talking,
24:27the car had been tempered with,
24:29something in the brake line,
24:30the private security team
24:31was already investigating
24:32who would go after
24:33Diana's car
24:34and why now.
24:36I was still turning it over
24:37when the door opened.
24:38Ryder.
24:39He stood in the doorway
24:40holding a small wooden box.
24:42He set it on the nightstand
24:43and sat down
24:44in the chair beside the bed.
24:45He didn't speak right away.
24:47The brake line was cut.
24:48It wasn't an accident.
24:49Do you know who?
24:51Working on it.
24:51He looked at my wrapped arm.
24:53His jaw moved.
24:53You kept my mother
24:54from going over that bank.
24:56She would have done
24:56the same for me.
24:57That's not the point.
24:58He was quiet again.
24:59Eva,
25:00I need to tell you something.
25:02He looked at the window.
25:03I've known for two months
25:04that I was going to have
25:05to dissolve the marriage contract.
25:07I asked Dr. Minz
25:08to start preparing
25:08the documentation.
25:09My chest went still.
25:11I knew you were waiting for it.
25:12The way you kept your distance.
25:14The box of things
25:14you were converting to cash
25:16and you were always going to leave.
25:17I told myself
25:18I was just getting ahead of it
25:19for you.
25:20He turned back to me.
25:21His eyes were flat
25:22and direct.
25:23The dissolution papers are ready.
25:24You can go whenever you want.
25:26I had Sunny prepare an account
25:27and a sum that will cover you
25:28for as long as you need.
25:30You don't wait for me to die.
25:31You don't have to keep pretending.
25:32I opened my mouth.
25:33Nothing came out.
25:34I know you've been counting the days.
25:36You don't have to do that anymore.
25:38Just go.
25:38He stood up and walked out.
25:40I sat there in the quiet
25:41after he left.
25:42In your mind
25:43that's who I am.
25:44My throat was burning.
25:45I couldn't find words for it.
25:47I just sat there
25:48with both hands in my lap
25:49staring at the door
25:50he'd closed behind him.
25:51By afternoon
25:52a formal notice appeared
25:53outside the university
25:54athletic office.
25:55His name on it.
25:56Claire came and found me
25:57before I could read it myself.
25:58She was pale.
25:59Eva.
26:00Ryder.
26:01He's been accused.
26:02An anonymous report
26:03submitted to the league.
26:04They're saying he deliberately
26:05threw the Westfield
26:06championship game
26:07two years ago.
26:08Fix the outcome.
26:08Share defensive plays
26:10with the other team.
26:11I read the notice twice.
26:12Ryder Calloway
26:13threw games.
26:14He had more championship trophies
26:16than any athlete
26:17in the league's history.
26:18He had nothing to gain
26:19and
26:20he had rushed
26:21to dissolve the contract
26:22before this broke.
26:23Sunny found me
26:24in the hole
26:25twisting her hands.
26:26He basically grew up
26:27on that ring.
26:28He would never.
26:29Eva.
26:30Is there anything?
26:31I sat down.
26:32I made myself think.
26:34My mother had treated
26:34a sports official years ago.
26:36A serious lung condition
26:38before I was born.
26:39He'd come to thank
26:40my father afterward.
26:41I'd overheard the conversation.
26:43He was still with
26:43the collegiate athletics board.
26:45I remembered his name.
26:46I spent the next hour
26:47finding his office number.
26:49He was harder to reach
26:50than I expected.
26:51Three calls.
26:52Two messages.
26:52The fourth time
26:53he picked up.
26:54I know this is unusual.
26:56I'm Eva Calloway.
26:57Dr. White treated my mother
26:58years ago
26:59before I was born.
27:00I know you remember him.
27:02I remember.
27:04My husband is being investigated.
27:06I believe the evidence
27:07was planted.
27:08I'm not asking you
27:08to interfere.
27:09I'm asking for the name
27:10of whoever submitted
27:11the report
27:12and ten minutes
27:13with whoever is reviewing it.
27:15Come to my office tomorrow.
27:17Eight in the morning.
27:17I was there at 7.45.
27:19It took two hours.
27:21He walked me
27:21through the documentation.
27:23I asked questions,
27:24took notes,
27:25and found three inconsistencies
27:26in the timeline
27:27that didn't line up
27:28with the away game schedule.
27:29When I came out,
27:30Ryder was standing
27:31against the wall
27:32outside the building.
27:33He looked at me
27:33with an expression
27:34I couldn't read.
27:35What are you doing here?
27:36I heard where you'd gone.
27:37He pushed off the wall.
27:39Eva, you don't have to do this.
27:40I know.
27:41I put my notes in my bag.
27:42I wanted to.
27:43He took one step toward me,
27:45then stopped.
27:45His voice was rough.
27:46Why?
27:47I looked at him straight.
27:48Because you're not guilty.
27:50Someone is trying
27:51to take you apart for it.
27:52He held my gaze
27:53for a long time.
27:54That's it?
27:55You saved my mother's life,
27:56and now this.
27:57She's my family too.
27:58I paused.
27:59Whether you dissolve
28:00the contract or not,
28:01that part doesn't change.
28:03Something shifted in his face.
28:04He crossed the remaining
28:05space between us
28:06and his arms came around me,
28:08careful,
28:08like he wasn't sure
28:09I'd allow it.
28:10I didn't move away.
28:11He held on.
28:12I could feel his breath
28:13unsteady against my hair.
28:15I know what you must think of me.
28:16Pushing you out.
28:17Telling you to leave.
28:18Eva, I...
28:19I know.
28:19I pressed my palm
28:20against his chest.
28:21His heart was going too fast.
28:23I know why you did it.
28:24We stood there
28:25on the pavement
28:25outside the athletics
28:27board building
28:28in the cold morning air.
28:29A long moment
28:29of nothing needed.
28:30On the way back,
28:31I told him about
28:32the timeline gaps.
28:34He listened
28:34without interrupting.
28:35When I finished,
28:36he was quiet for a moment.
28:38Then...
28:38The report was filed
28:39by someone
28:40on the Westfield side.
28:41A coach who lost
28:42his position after the game.
28:44He blamed me.
28:45Then we find the proof.
28:46We?
28:47I looked at him.
28:48We.
28:48The corner of his mouth moved.
28:50Small.
28:51Barely there.
28:52It was the first real smile
28:53I'd ever seen on him.
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